Iran imposes intercity travel ban; coronavirus kills 154 more
Death toll mounts to 2,234; 10,457 of those infected have recovered and been discharged from hospitals: Ministry; violators face legal action as Rouhani vows to contain virus in 2 weeks
Iran has started an intercity travel ban, an Iranian official said in a televised news conference on Thursday, a day after Iran’s government spokesman warned the country might face a surge of cases in the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials have complained that many Iranians ignored appeals to stay at home and cancel travel plans for the Persian New Year holidays that began on March 20.
The outbreak has so far killed 2,234 people in Iran. 157 deaths were recorded in 24 hours, the health ministry said.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour also said that 2,389 new cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of declared infections in one of the world’s worst-hit countries to 29,406.
“Fortunately, until today 10,457 of those infected have recovered and been discharged from hospitals,” he told a news conference.
Jahanpour said that the spread of the new coronavirus and its rate of infection was “growing steadily” in Iran.
“Those who have travelled for the Iranian New
Year holidays should immediately return to their cities without making any stops in other cities on their way back home,” said Hossein Zolfaghari, a member of Iran’s national headquarters for fighting the coronavirus.
The authorities have called on Iranians to avoid public places and stay at home, while schools, universities, cultural and sports centres have been temporarily closed.
“The closure of universities and schools as well as suspension of gatherings has been extended,” Zolfaghari said, adding that violators of the measures will face legal consequences.
Zolfaghari said non-residents will not be allowed into cities based on their car plates and drivers’ IDS, and violators will be fined and their cars impounded.
“All official and non-official gatherings are also banned,” the official said, without elaborating further.
Authorities will punish shops that remain open with a month’s forced closure. Pharmacies, groceries and bakeries are exempt.
President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will contain the spread of the virus in two weeks, adding that further measures have been taken to ease the economic impact of the outbreak on lowerincome citizens.
Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting he hoped the “more strict measures” would help to curb the virus.
“We will send a letter to Iran’s supreme leader today to seek permission on withdrawal of $1 billion from Iran’s sovereign wealth fund,” Rouhani said in a meeting, broadcast live on state TV.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the last say on all state matters.
“This amount will be used to help impacted lower-income people and to assist our health sector.”
Shut out of international capital markets and facing a further hit to its finances with the collapse in oil prices coming on top of US sanctions, Iran is struggling to shield its economy from the coronavirus pandemic.
Rouhani claimed that despite US sanctions, Iran is faring better than other countries.
“Despite being under tough US sanctions, our fight against the coronavirus outbreak continues and we will overcome the outbreak,” said Rouhani.
The country will also provide businesses which have not laid off workers during the outbreak with low-interest loans, Rouhani said.
Tensions have risen between longtime foes Iran and the United States since 2018, when US President Donald Trump exited Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
Iranian authorities, blaming US sanctions for hampering Tehran’s efforts to curb the outbreak, have urged other countries and the United Nations to call on Washington to lift the sanctions. Washington has rejected lifting the sanctions.
Khamenei has dismissed a purported US offer of humanitarian aid amid the pandemic, saying Americans “could be giving medicines to Iran that spread the virus or cause it to remain permanently.”
Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami on Thursday said Iran has the capability to overcome the outbreak, rejecting the purported aid offer as a “trick.”